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Heavy Wireless

Heavy Wireless

Packet Pushers 83 Episodes Aug 11, 2026

Heavy Wireless is a deep dive into Wi-Fi, IoT, wireless security, and more. Host Keith Parsons, CWNE#3, draws on his decades of experience to educate, entertain, and inspire those working in the WLAN industry. Each twice-monthly episode explores an aspect of wireless technology with guests including Wi-Fi engineers, industry experts, and vendors. Whether you're already a WLAN specialist or looking to expand your skills in this high-demand sector of IT, Heavy Wireless gives you the technical know-how and industry context to succeed.

Episodes

HW085: Designing Wi-Fi for High-Density Events
HW085: Designing Wi-Fi for High-Density Events Aug 11, 2026 32:20 Keith is joined by Ferney Muñoz and Tom Hildebrand to break down the complexities of designing high-density Wi-Fi for large-scale events. They dig into the strategic use of directional antennas, channel reuse techniques, and the necessity of on-site verification to ensure network reliability. They also share practical tips on device roaming, troubleshooting, and cross-team collaboration.... Read m
HW084: Spatial Reuse in Wi-Fi
HW084: Spatial Reuse in Wi-Fi Jul 28, 2026 26:00 Jake Snyder joins Keith Parsons to explain the mechanics of spatial reuse in Wi-Fi. They discuss practical implementation, the trade-offs involved in increasing signal detection thresholds, and why effective RF design remains the primary method for optimizing network performance. Episode Links: Jake Snyder’s Website
HW083: Inside the WLAN Pros Toolbox – A Free, Multipurpose App
HW083: Inside the WLAN Pros Toolbox – A Free, Multipurpose App Jul 14, 2026 19:53 Host Keith Parsons recently launched the WLAN Pros Toolbox, a multi-function app with all the calculators, live tools, reference materials, and Wi-Fi readings you need. Today, Keith opens the toolbox to talk about what’s in it, how it was built, and why it’s being given away for free. AdSpot Sponsor: Meter Most IT teams are... Read more »
HW082: Employee or Independent Contractor in the Wi-Fi Industry?
HW082: Employee or Independent Contractor in the Wi-Fi Industry? Jun 23, 2026 23:09 Is it better to be an employee or an independent contractor in the Wi-Fi industry? Keith walks us through the good, the bad, and the ugly of both sides of the equation, offering a candid look at the financial and professional realities of each. Keith helps provide a framework for listeners to assess their own... Read more »
HW081: What to Do About the 6GHz Upper Band Split
HW081: What to Do About the 6GHz Upper Band Split Jun 9, 2026 13:03 The upper 6 gigahertz band is fracturing among national lines after a verdict from regulatory bodies in the UK and the EU. While the US enjoys full Wi-Fi access along the entire 1200 megahertz, the EU has decided to reserve most of the upper band for mobile services, and the UK is testing a split... Read more »
HW080: WLAN Pros’ Wi-Fi Troubleshooting Course
HW080: WLAN Pros’ Wi-Fi Troubleshooting Course May 26, 2026 27:54 The tool does not troubleshoot your network, you troubleshoot your network and the tool just shows you what’s there. If you don’t have a method, it doesn’t matter how many tools you have, you’ll just stare at more data. Today Keith is joined by Ferney Munoz to discuss a new course: the WLAN Pros Wi-Fi... Read more »
HW079: Driving AI Efficacy in Wi-Fi (Sponsored)
HW079: Driving AI Efficacy in Wi-Fi (Sponsored) May 19, 2026 29:24 Every wireless vendor has an AI story. What actually matters now? Efficacy. Recorded live at Mobility Field Day, Keith sits down with HPE’s Bob Friday right off the show floor to discuss how HPE’s announcements are driving toward an autonomous network and what features are the key to truly making a difference in day-to-day life... Read more »
HW078: Companion Tools for Wireless Validation Surveys
HW078: Companion Tools for Wireless Validation Surveys May 12, 2026 22:34 Guest Nick Turner joins Keith to discuss the technicalities of Wi-Fi validation survey file structures. Nick has spent a lot of time deep in the weeds of .ESX files, and he’s here to share workflows and utilities you can use to help navigate, migrate, back up, and operationalize .ESX files. If you’ve ever wondered exactly... Read more »
HW077: The Lean Network Team: Real-World Lessons in Automating a Wireless Network (Sponsored)
HW077: The Lean Network Team: Real-World Lessons in Automating a Wireless Network (Sponsored) May 5, 2026 25:27 In this sponsored episode, brought to you by Cisco, Keith sits down with Mark Rodrigue of Room & Board and Dan Davis of Cisco. They discuss Room & Board’s network and how their three-person networking team manages over 700 access points with the help of Meraki Cloud Management. Room & Board’s story is a great... Read more »
HW076: Linux for the WLAN Professional
HW076: Linux for the WLAN Professional Apr 28, 2026 21:06 What separates good Wi-Fi engineers from ones who really can troubleshoot anything? Linux. Understanding Linux—from packet capture workflows to using tcpdump to how USB NIC drivers work—will set you apart from other engineers. Guest Bryan Ward joins the show to break down why you need to know Linux as a WLAN professional and how you... Read more »
HW075: Speedtest Certified
HW075: Speedtest Certified Apr 14, 2026 31:28 Speedtest Certified is a network connectivity verification program for properties and venues, allowing them to prove the performance of their Wi-Fi. Alan Blake of Ookla joins the show to break down what the certification actually measures, how assessments are performed, and what it means for network owners as well as Wi Fi professionals. This is... Read more »
HW074: Build Your Own Access Point with Bradley Wegner
HW074: Build Your Own Access Point with Bradley Wegner Mar 31, 2026 26:33 Keith Parsons is joined by Bradley Wegner, the creator of the Build Your Own AP deep dive at WLPC. Brad discusses his class, which focuses on hands-on hardware experience of constructing an AP. He talks about balancing hardware costs with capabilities, sourcing the components, and the software and firmware involved. He also shares his vision... Read more »

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